Repeat loading mechanism for pneumatic guns



Nov. 18, 1952 W, s, WELLS 2,618,254

REPEAT LOADING MECHANISM FOR PNEUMATIC GUNS Filed July 21, 194'? 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 V Illllm I To a3 H '5 l ,7 la

III l' o 44 JNVENTOR.

NOV. 18, 1952 W, 5 WELLS REPEAT LOADING MECHANISM FOR PNEUMATIC GUNS Filed July 21, 1947 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 R. m m W.

Patented Nov. 18, 1952 ITED r-A'ras .PATENT REPEAT. LoA'piNG MEcHANisMFoR 'PNEUMATICGUNS s William 'S. -Wells, `Palo Alto, .Calin assigner-tto Daisy kMamifactm-ing Company, lliymou'th, Mich.,4 a corporation ofl Michigan Applicationiulyzl, 1947, serial No.-762;3`94 101mm. (ci. 12a-.451)

1 'This invention relates generally to guns and rfersemore particularlyto 'guns adapted to nre shot either of the ball or pellet type.

LOne-oftheObjects of this invention is toprovide'faegu'n of'tlreabove type-with an improved auto-loading'mechanism characterized in that it 'is'slmple -in construction -and reliable in operation. "In-'accordance with this invention a mag- '-aZin'e vadapted 1 to ycontain a `multiplicity of shot issuppo'rtedon the gun frame with' the delivery end ,positioned adjacent .the breech end vof the bai-rel "and I provision is made for `automatically .transferring shot from the delivery-end of ``the magazine toa vposition in registration :with the :breech end of the gun barrel.

JAnother objectof vthis invention is'to provide means forlv transferring shot frorn the `delivery Vend yof themagazinefinto the gunbarrel'in advance ofthering pinin response to manipulation rot-the cooking mechanism-to lock the gun.

Still Ianothertieature "of v:this invention -is to 4provide tithe ,-gun -With short transferring means o'ixthe 'above' type having provision for holding shot in a position at the breech 'end/ofy the vgun barreltior-engagement bythe positioning` pin as the .latterfis operated .by :return sfmovement of the cooking `:mechanism to advance the 1 shot to .its ilring :position ini the -gun barrel.

further object 01E this invention is. to provide meansoperatingin timed relationto engagement vof 'thershot' by ther.positioningi.pin to v'return the shot transfer means ,to a -position in operative relation :to vthe de1iveryend.o'f the '.ma'gazine Theforegoing asrwell asa-.other objects willxbe made more apparent'. asv this description; proceeds',

especially `when considered in -connection `with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

,Figure 1 isl a .perspective view .partly in section of -a .part -oi a gun :embodying 4auto-loading mechanism forming the .subject matter `of Vthis invention; l

Figure 2 isa,isectional view takenron the line Figure :is :a sectional' View showing the `parts in a position wherein the positioninglpin isin its :advanced position .in .theV gun barrel;

`"liigurefflis afsectional view taken ontheline L44 of Figure 2` and.y showing the positioning. pin

von its initial retracting stroke;

-iEigure `v5 is :a sectional view similar: to lFigure 4;-.showingtheparts in a position wherein the tiring pin. is in `its fully retractedv position;

Figures and 'l -are'sectional views taken respectvelyonlthef. lines'I-S and 1-'1 of.y Figure2;

HFigure J8.is a fragmentary perspective view yishowingthe pelletrsupply tube;

.2 Figure 19 is an 'elevational view partly I in sec tion f of 'i the f construction ``YshownfinFigure-18: and 'Figure 10 isa .sectional 4Viewitalien on1the-line Iii-'I 0 of-'Figure'9- `For the vpurpose "of illustrating :the autoloading mechanism forming'fthe subject :matter of this invention, I have .selected fa pneumatic gun of the-general 'type shown inimy 'co'penlin-g application Serial No. '762.391, .filed July 21', 19147 and nowabandoned However, it will loe-understood as this-description proceeds"that-:theautoloading mechanism is `not necessarily 4limited 'tto .use in connection Withiguns of thefspecificztype noted above, lbut `may vbe :advantageously :.nsed in practically alll instances Where vrit. is desired y:to provide ,repeat operation finsguns designed 5to :ilre shot either of :the pellet orball itype.

Withfthe 4.above in"-view,nreference.isfnow made -to the accompanying -drawing, 1 wherein :the :reference numeral I!) indicates the breech fend of -a pneumatic :fgun havingzaframe II comprising a barrel I 2, a storage. chamber VIt iroriair'iunder pressurefand cooking mechanism 1 Ill suitablysupported on the frame 'I-.I vattic-hebreech fend.1of;tne lbarrel I2. .The lrear ,en'diofzthe:chamberISgis .provided vwithan Aoutlet opening I5 communicating :withgthexbarrel I Zaatfa,apointaspacedfforwardly from .-the'lbreech end of thefl'atter' throughz-falipassage I6. :Thesflow :ofrair under pressurefroni the: chamber I3fto thebarrel Izzthrough-"the'pase s :sage .I6 ,is controlled by :a valve Il comprising plunger 2l is slidably `supported inthe-frame II of the gun with .the 'opposite y-Lends .respectivel-y engagingthe valvemember I91and.anvi`l'22. The anvil 22 isfslidably..sup.ported in 'a compartment 23 -in axial alignment with theplunger 2| zand is engageable vvwiththe rear v@end .of `the latter. As shownlinfFigure .2- of .the drawing the vanvil 22 is securedto the, front A'end vof ya rodi! having the rear end slidablyrsupported.insa breech block v25. VThe rod 2li-.forms a .support-.for a vhammer 26 normallyurgedf ina directiontwardthe 'anvil- .The .valvemember I9 is- The hammer 25 is held in its cocked position I shown in Figure 2 of the drawing wherein the spring 21 is compressed by a sear 29 actuated in accordance with the usual practice by a trigger operated trip 30. 'I'he arrangement is such that operation of the trigger (not shown) to release the sear 29 from the head 28 on the hammer 26 permits the spring 21 to throw the hammer forwardly along the rod 24 into engagement with the anvil 22. Inasmuch as the anvil engages the rear end of the plunger 2I and since the front end of the latter engages the valve member I9, it follows that the impact applied to the anvil by the hammer istransmitted to the valve member I9. The strength of the spring 21 is predetermined to apply suiiicient force on the valve member I9 to :overcome the opposing force applied to the valve member by the pressure of the air in the storage chamber I3 and effect movement of the valve member in a direction away from its seat I8.V Thus, air under` pressure from the chamber I3 escapes into .the barrel I2 through the passage It will, 'of course, be understood that priorA to opening the valve I1, a shot such for example, as apellet 3l islocated in what may be termed a ring position in the barrel in advance of the passage I 6 so that the air under pressure admitted to the barrelimpin'ges on the pellet and propels the latter through the barrel. The shot 3| is advanced along the barrel to its ring position by a pin 32 slidably supported on the gun frame for movement into and out of the breech end of the barrel. v AThe shot positioning pin 32 forms a part of the 'cocking mechanism I4 which also comprises a block 33 and a sleeve or cap 34. The block 33 is suitably supported on the frame II beyond the breech end of the barrel I2 for sliding movement in'directions toward and away from the breech -end of the barrel and is connected to the rear end of the positioning pin 32. The cap 34 extends over the breech end of the gun frame, and

is supported at opposite sides of the gun frame by Y'ways 35 for sliding movement fore and aft of the'frame. The cap 34 aiords a convenient grip and is connected to the block 33 for operating the latter.

Referring again to Figure 2v of the drawing, it will be noted that a lug 36 in the form of a screw issecured to the block 33 and projects into the path of travel of the head 28 on the hammer 26. The arrangement is such that rearward movement of the block 33 by the cap 34 subsequent to firing the gun engages the projection 3G with the front side of the head 28 on the hammer 26 and moves the hammer rearwardly along the rod [positioning pin 32 is retracted with the block 33 *and the front end of the pin assumes a position rearwardly beyond the shot loading slot 31 at the breech vend of the barrel I2 when in its revtracted position relative to the barrel.

vSupported at one side of the barrel I2 is a Emagazine 38 adapted to hold a multiplicity of s'hot in side by side relationship axially of the tioning pin 32.

magazine. The magazine comprises a tub 39 and a bore 4I) formed in the gun frame II in juxtaposition to the breech end of the barrel I2. The axis of the bore 4I) is parallel to the barrel I2, and the rear end of the bore communicates with the slot 31 at the front side thereof in the manner clearly shown in Figures 4 and 5 of the drawing. The front end of the bore is enlarged to receive the rear end of the tube 39 and the latter is removably attached to the barrel by a clip 39 to enable readily interchanging the tube 39, when empty, with a similar tube lled with shot. The clip is secured to the front end portion of the tube 39 and has a portion 45 shaped to enable snapping the same over the adjacent portion of the gun barrel in the manner clearly shown in Figure 10 of the drawing. The bore in the tube forms a continuation of the bore 40 in the frame I I and shot is transferred from the tube 39 to the bore 40 by the action of gravity when the muzzle end of the gun is tipped upwardly. A Y

Positioned beyond the rear or delivery end of the bore 40 is an abutment 4I comprising vertically spaced ears 42 projecting laterally from the gun frame II. The front edges of the ears 42 are spaced rearwardly from the delivery end of the bore 48 a distance slightly greater than the length of the shot 3l and prevent delivery of more than one shot at a time from the bore 43. As the shot 3I falls by gravity from the delivery end of the bore 40 into the slot 31, it is restrained from displacement in a lateral outward direction by a retainer 43 in the form of a U-shaped clip xed to the front end ofY a lever 44 having the rear end fulcrumed on the breech block 25 in the manner indicated by the numeral 45 in Figures 3 to 5 inclusive of the drawing. 'Ihe front end of the lever projects between the ears 42 on the abutment 4I, and the fulcrum is such as to enable swinging movement of the front endportion of the lever in directions toward and away from the barre1 I2.

The front end of the lever 44 is urged in a direction toward the barrel I2 by a spring 41 positioned at the side of the breech block 25 opposite the side of the latter on which the lever is fulcrumed and assembled on a pin 48 extending transversely through a bore formed inthe block 25. The end of the pin 48 adjacent the lever 44 extends through an opening formed in the level` at a point spaced forwardly of the fulcrum 45 and is formed with a head 49. A washer 50 is secured to the opposite end of the pin 48 and the spring 41 is located between the washer and adjacent face of the block 25. As the spring 41 swings the front end of the lever inwardly or in a direction toward the barrel I2, a shot 3| is transferred by the retainer 43 from a position in the slot 31 at the delivery end of the bore 40 (Figure 3 of the drawing) to a position in registration with the breech end of the barrel I2 (Figure 5 of the drawing) in advance of the posi- The lever 44 is normally held against the action of the spring 41 in the position shown in Figure 3 of the drawing wherein the retainer 43 serves as a closure lfor the outer end of the slot 31 to prevent displacement of the shot 3l. For holding the lever 44 in the above position, a stop 5I in the form of a screw is threaded in a transverse bore formed in the cooking block 33 and having one end positioned to abut the inner face of the lever intermediate the retainer 43 and pin 48. A

cam 52 projects inwardly from the inner face of ears 42 on the abutment 4|.

the lever 44 in a position to engage the outer end of the screw and hold the swinging end of the lever in its outermost position when the positioning pin 32 is in its advanced position in the gun barrel. The stop or screw 5| is adjustable to enable accurately locating the retainer 43 at the swinging end of the lever 44 in a position to permit unobstructed movement of shot 3| into the slot 31 when the muzzle end of the barrel is tipped upwardly.

The extent of movement of the rearwardmost shot or pellet 3| into the slot 31 is actually limited by a n 53 projecting laterally outwardly from the positioning pin 32 into the slot between the The design of the n is such that when the action is closed and the positioning pin 32 is in its advanced position shown in Figure 3 of the drawing, the front end of the fin acts as a stop for the rearwardmost pellet dropping out of the bore 40 into the slot 31. Actually, in the above position of the parts, the front end of the 11n 52 is spaced from the rear end of the bore 40 a distance less than the length of the shot or pellet 3| so that the extreme front end of the pellet remains in the bore until the pin 32 is retracted. As the positioning pin is retracted from the gun barrel, the iin 52 is withdrawn from the slot 31 and the adjacent shot or pellet is loosened. At the same time, the screw 5| is released from the cam 52 and the lever 44 is operated by the spring 41 to move the pellet to its loading position. Thus, any tendency for adjacent pellets to cup is reduced to a minimum and jamming of the shot is avoided.

After the gun is red it is, of course, necessary to cock the gun, and as stated above, this is accomplished by grasping the sleeve or cap 34 and moving the same rearwardly from the position thereof shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawing. Rearward movement of the cap 34 imparts a corresponding movement to the block 33 and enables the latter to compress the operating spring 21 by moving the hammer 26 rearwardly to its cocked position. Inasmuch as the positioning pin 32 is connected at its rear end to the block 23, it follows that this pin is retracted from the barrel and eventually assumes the position shown in Figure 5 of the drawing wherein the front end thereof is spaced rearwardly from the slot receiving slot 31.

The adjustable stop 5| moves rearwardly with the block 33 and as this stop approaches the pin 4l, the front end of the lever 44 is swung inwardly by the spring 41 to transfer shot 3| into the breech end of the barrel in advance of the front end of the positioning pin 32. The positioning pin 32 is, of course, advanced into the barrel l2 when the cap 34 and associated cocking block 33 are returned to their forwardmost positions shown in Figures 1 to 3 inclusive of the 60 6 drawings. As the positioning pin 32 is advanced into the barrel |2, the shot 3| is engaged by the front end of the pin and is moved to its firing position in advance of the air passage I6.

What I claim as my invention is:

A gun comprising a frame having a barrel, a magazine for holding shot supported to one side of the barrel with the delivery end positioned adjacent the breach end of the barrel, means on the gun frame spaced rearwardly from the delivery end of the magazine providing a pocket adjacent the frame end of the barrel for successively receiving shot from the magazine, a lever having the front end positioned at the outer side of the pocket laterally beyond the delivery end of the magazine, means pivotally supporting the rear end of the lever on the gun frame and permitting movement of the front end of the lever laterally inwardly to transfer a shot in the pocket into the breach end of the barrel, resilient means urging the lever in a direction to transfershot from the pocket to the breach end of the barrel, a shot positioning pin movable into and out of the barrel, a fin connected with the shot positioning pin and projecting laterally therefrom into said pocxet adjacent the delivery end of said magazine when the shot positioning pin is in its advanced position so as to prevent said rearmost shot from moving into the pocket even if the gun frame is tilted, positioning means connected with the shot positioning pin and engageable with the lever in the advanced position of the shot positioning pin to hold the swinging end of the lever at the outer side of the pocket against the action of said resilient means, and a cam surface on said lever coacting with said positioning means upon retracting movement of said shot positioning pin to permit laterally inward swinging movement of the lever for transferring a shot from the pocket to the breach end of the barrel after said shot positioning pin and its shot engaging means have been retracted.

WILLIAM S. WELLS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,026,303 Dickey May 14, 1912 1,146,753 Dickey July 13, 1915 1,057,171 Redeld Mar. 25, 1913 1,512,993 McLean Oct. 28, 1924 1,677,810 Bond July 17, 1928 1,817,745 Forsman et al Aug. 4, 1931 '1,825,489 Tostenson Sept. 29, 1931 1,862,697 Mihalyi June 14, 1932 2,320,403 Brewer June 1, 1943 

